Ladies, can you please help me find a new coat?

Hello! Now, I do appreciate that this post is going to be of limited appeal. It’s aimed squarely at the ladies among my acquaintance – and I know that there are at least a few of you out there – who love coats and dresses as much as I do. Apologies to everyone else.

In short, I need your help. While it’s fair to say that no one strictly ‘needs’ a new coat, I am in the pleasant position of having been told to go and get myself one for a new TV series, and I hope for your recommendations.

Here’s the brief: needs to be a plain bright colour (not red, because that’s what I had last time) and you can see that I like funny collars, big buttons, vaguely vintage-y-looking styles. Oh, and it must be available on the UK high street and cost no more than £250. Do let me know if you spot anything suitable!

While I’m on the subject, I’m quite often asked where I got my other coats from, so let me introduce you to some old friends …

1. My red coat from ‘Harlots, Heroines and Housewives’, which came from Jaeger. (This one only just sneaked into the affordability range because luckily it was in the sale!)

2. What colour do you call this? Blue? Green? Turquoise? A matter of endless debate. Anyway, this good and trusty friend from ‘If Walls Could Talk‘ and ‘Antiques Uncovered‘ came from Hoss Intropia. It has been dry-cleaned many, many times because it kept getting stinky with woodsmoke at The Weald and Downland Museum during filming.

3. My purple coat is in fact my favourite. I wore it in ‘Elegance and Decadence, The Age of the Regency’ and it came from LK Bennett (though had to be extensively cut down at the tailor’s, because LK Bennett make clothes for goddesses, not gnomes like me.) You can’t see it in this view, but it has a kind of cocoon shape with a very clever pleat down the back.

4. And my ‘Dorothy Hartley‘ coat, from Damsel In A Dress, which had to be short enough for bicycling. I’m proud to say that I took six inches off the bottom BY MYSELF, with the aid of my colleague Joanna’s sewing box and some magical hemming tape.

25 thoughts on “Ladies, can you please help me find a new coat?”

It is only a month ago since i began watching your charming and hugely interesting programs,history told so differently. Your appearance is just right my dear,ah! all those good coats, elegant dresses your legs and bob with the clip(a must !) May i add that your language is so clear too and easy to understand. From a dane watching i Japan.

Hello Lucy,
Fabulous, glorious coats above. You have a very distinctive style. All beautifully tailored and ‘just you’. As for another coat, that’s a tricky one. I half imagine you in perhaps Hobbs? Probably not exclusive enough, though.
I’m sure there will be lots of useful suggestions on the way.
Now, to more important things. Your lovely red cardigan with the cute little rosette on the shoulder? Have you finished with it yet? If so I’m willing to take it off your hands.
Love watching the programmes, you bring history to life and make watching very compelling. Long may it continue…
Jules

Talking of coats, I just saw your gory Murders programme last night and (though of course gripped by the narrative) I was very distracted by the gorgeous pale beige belted coat. Where did you get it?
Anna.

I’m so sorry to bother you but I was watching your (excellent) new programme on the first Georgians, I’m going to your talk on it tonight and I was wondering where you got your amazing coat from. I love the colour blue and the sixties look and I’d love to know where it was from.
Thanks,
Isabella

Another coat related enquiry: love to know where the pink three quarter sleeve coat was from in Tales from the Royal Wardrobe. Great programme and so much more to say on the subject – will there be a Tales from the Royal Wardrobe II?

There is a lady called Fiona Pearce Letts who designs and makes vintage clothing in Tamworth England with a business called Adixxtion Corsetry. She makes the Peaky Blinders caps, gents jackets and waistcoats, ladies full gowns in Edwardian and Victorian era style and bridal boned dresses.
I really feel she would be able to offer designs in your price range via an inquiry..she is on the web, FB etc,.her work is exceptional.